(Amber's POV)The halls and corridors of this depressing place hadn't changed at all, but I pushed away the oppressive feelings with the hope that burned brightly in my chest because of the opportunity to see my mother."It's probably another dirty trick. They'll be some sort of condition, there always is." Rae grumbled."I know Rae, just…at least now we have Ryan behind us. Whatever this fucker throws at us, we can met it head on and not worry about repercussions.""It's just fucking unfair. I want to see her.""I know Rae, I do too. Our mother is the most important thing in our lives but you heard what Ryan said…we have to be careful."They settled into a tense silence with each other as she was led through the corridors and into the sitting room where her father stood imperiously behind the chaise lounge that held the poised figures of Anna and Viola."You're late." Luke said coldly as his eyes seemed to bore into her."Yes, I'm sorry. Traffic was a little difficult on the way over
(Amber's POV)I could see that Viola's eyes were as wide as saucers as she ogled Ryan quite openly, evidently stunned by his handsome features, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of satisfaction at the strangled squeak that she suddenly emitted.In seconds she was standing and fluttering her eyelashes at him with a sickening smile plastered across her face."Hello! I don't think we've been introduced yet." She greeted him brightly as she glanced towards our father, "I'm Viola, daughter of Alpha Luke…it's a pleasure to meet you." She simpered as she scurried over and offered her hand to Ryan, expecting him to kiss her hand warmly and introduce himself."Silly little girl strutting around like a peacock, " Rae snorted in amusement, "She has no idea that Ryan is your husband. I bet she thinks that it's just some handsome Alpha that's come to propose to her."I stifled a laugh at the look of disgust on Ryan's face as his eyes dragged over her disdainfully before he turned, ignoring her c
(Ryan's POV)While we waited for Anna to complete her charade of being an attentive luna and pretend to direct the omega's in their work efficiently, Luke had led us down to the dining hall that sometimes doubled as his council chamber of the Scarlett Pack. He hadn't wanted Amber to join us, but much to his dismay, I had insisted that she accompany us.I wanted him to see us united and watch as it slowly sank in that she belonged to me now and that he could no longer threaten her or oppress her just to get what he wanted.We had sat and listened to him drone on tirelessly about this stupid project for what seemed like forever and quite honestly, I had stopped listening a while ago."So what do you think Alpha?" He asked excitedly, "I have a few projects that I want to pursue, but this one seems the most promising. The only thing that we're really lacking to get it off the ground is a little investment. But with your backing I really think it will succeed and make us both a lot of mone
(Amber's POV)Ryan held the door to the car open for me with a gentle smile and I slid into my seat, marveling at this new side of him that he was only just showing me now. Was starting to see what Lilly and the rest of the pack saw in him. If he had been like this from the start then I had no doubt that we would have settled into a routine with each other very quickly."I couldn't tell you inside Amber but, we haven't been able to locate your mother yet." He said as he slid in next to me and closed the door behind him, "We are looking though and Tom is the best at what he does so I'm hopeful that it won't be too long now before she's found."Amber felt her heart still as she struggled to take in his words."You're looking for her?" she squeaked, her voice thick with emotion."Of course!" Ryan smiled softly, "I don't want you to worry about her anymore. We've been keeping an eye on the Scarlett Pack for a little while now and there are plenty of leads still to follow. It really is jus
(Amber's POV)I was a little bewildered by the rapid mood swings that Ryan was undergoing at the moment, but if he intended to seduce me everytime he felt a little jealous, then I wasn't going to complain.His urgent kiss had taken me by surprise, but there was no resistance from me as I allowed him to deepen the kiss, his lips working fiercely against mine, his hands gripping my head like his life dependent on it.He broke away suddenly and stared intensely into my eyes and for a moment I felt as though he was going to swallow me whole. The desire reflected in his eyes was almost frightening."You're mine Amber. MINE. No one else's." He growled furiously, his fingers tightening in my hair."I know Ryan..'m yours..no one else's," I soothed as the eyes of his wolf flashed alongside his and Rae reacted eagerly, her desire fuelling my own.Ryan's face darkened as he inhaled deeply and without another word, he picked me up and walked purposely to his bed, depositing me carefully on the mat
(Ryan's POV)I was careful not to wake Amber this morning when I slipped out of bed and headed to my office.I had woken up early thanks to Tom's mindlink this morning and rather than take his report with the distracting naked body of my mate next to me, I had asked him to meet me in my office.He was already standing outside the door with a lopsided grin and clutching two large mugs of coffee which I gratefully accepted as I ushered him inside."So, tell me, did we manage to get any useful intel?" I asked as I leaned back in my chair, sipping on the coffee."Not a lot unfortunately, Alpha. After they had healed sufficiently from your punishment, we began interrogations and no matter what method we used, the ones who survived still refused to tell us who was behind the attack."I could feel my wolf reacting angrily to the lack of progress and I wasn't pleased either, but if they had managed to withstand all of our interrogation methods, then it meant they weren't just anyone who had b
(Ambers POV)I was exhausted by the time Lily had finished helping me get ready for the date with Ryan. It didn't matter how much I insisted that it wasn't a date, and that it was simply a dinner, she wouldn't hear any of it.After we had found a dress that met her specifications, she insisted on helping me fix my makeup that she had managed to gather from the curious omega's who also volunteered to help out. Before I knew what was happening I seemed to have a small army of women running around and chattering excitedly at the fact that they were helping their Luna to get ready for a date with their Alpha.I had gotten so tired of correcting them , that I eventually gave up and let them have their gossip. I didn't see any lasting harm coming from it. The worst that could happen is perhaps Ryan became angry with me…but if that resulted in his naked body next to mine again then I couldn't honestly see myself complaining.I felt a little overdressed for something as simple as a dinner, bu
(Amber's POV)I blinked at him in confusion.Had he not listened to a word I had said?He seemed so fixated on the idea that she was rejecting him and she was sure she had never said that. As for not satisfying me, nothing could be further from the truth. I was sure that as long as his skin was next to mine, then there was no possible way that I could dislike anything that he did to me in bed.But I couldn't shake the fear that he would one day grow tired of me. I had already experienced his cruelty first hand and regardless of his reasoning, it didn't mean that he wasn' capable of reverting to that behavior again if he grew tired of me or if I displeased him in some way."Ryan, listen to me. Why do you want all of this so suddenly? If it's only because of the mate bond and you feel that you owe me something, then you're already doing enough. I don't want us to head down this road if you don't truly feel that connection with me because it will only lead to heartbreak if it fails.""Fa